Duh Dynasty

Once again, some patriotic lovers of free speech and the First Amendment show they don’t understand the law. Yes, this is America where we the peeps can say anything we want without fear of retribution from the government. We can say almost anything we want about a fellow citizen, or a group as long as it’s not in violation of liable laws or falsely dangerous such as the old chestnut about falsely yelling fire in a crowded theater. But there’s another side to that free speech coin.

We the peeps also have the freedom to use speech and legal actions to respond. The A&E Network exercised its legal right to bounce Duck Dynasty’s Phil Robertson off the air. They may pay for it in lost viewers and revenue, but they still have a First Amendment right to do what they did. This is a free country but until people learn how to speak in public, there will be events like this. Full disclosure: I don’t watch the show, nor am I even remotely interested in it.

So, to recap, you can say anything you want and it may cost you a lot of money. You can say anything you want and it may cost you an election. You can say anything you want and it may cost you a friend. You can say anything you want and it may end your marriage. You can say anything you want and it may cost you your job, your show, your reputation. It’s called freedom of speech.